Online Bible vs. purchase and download

More then a decade ago I had a friend who had the Logos software on floppy disk, which tells you how long ago that was. Logos was incredibly useful, at least that he showed me, and in the little time I have spent here tonight I can see an incredible amount of value to the software.

Now, with that said, I have to ask the question. 10 years ago the internet was not around, and you couldn't just type in a website and read the bible. But now there are countless online bible websites where you can read for free pretty much any version of the bible your heart desires. And a lot of these websites offer daily reading plans, places to enter notes and journal, as well as parallel study of the bible, etc.

So, with the incredible amount of resources online, all for free, can someone make an argument to justify needing the bible on your PC locally? Now before some of you answer, keep in mind that I am simple layman just looking to read passages and search out keywords or phrases for use in everyday conversation and apologetics with atheists, and non-believers. I'm not intelligent enough to touch the Hebrew or Greek, or honestly have the brain power to go that deep as to study that sort of thing. Way over my feeble head.

I so apologize in advance for my ignorance. But certainly you can understand my curiosity as to why paying for bible software anymore would hold any value, at least from a layman's perspective.

Thanks and God Bless!

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Comments

Shawn Drewett

Phillip, it is refreshing to hear an inquiry such as this and I'll have to admit your thoughts have been mine before. I have never been a pastor or even a SS teacher. I didn't get married till age 37 so I had ALOT of time to study the bible and I took advantage of it. Nearly 11 years ago I bought the McArthur BIble Study Library and got "hooked" on Logos. Since then I have purchased around $2000.00 worth of books.

In answer to your question, a MULTITUDE of resources are available free and online for bible study, however all of these resources are generally at least 50 years old and exclude any modern author's books or commentaries. These must be purchased. E-Sword is a tremendous free software with numerous resources that can be downloaded for free.

This would be considered a treasonous statement in this forum, but there have been many times that I wish I had that $2000.00 in hand today and that I had simply used the hundreds of free resources available for bible study. I do not know Greek or Hebrew either so some of the features of Logos I cannot utilize.

Logos is addictive! Personally I think that one could justify almost any amount to purchase Logos and it's resources because, after all, it is for Bible Study , sermon preparation, ministering etc.! Only problem is, if one is not a pastor or teacher and has a limited budget, (let alone no church/minsitry account to help with the purchase) is Logos a wise investment?

Too many times I myself have spent more time in my personal bible study time learning the features of Logos and "playing" with it at the expense of real devotion and meditation on the WORD.

Allen Browne

...So, with the incredible amount of resources online, all for free, can someone make an argument to justify needing the bible on your PC locally?

Depends what you want to do, and how you value your time, Phillip.

If you just need to search for a word or phrase occasionally, you'll be fine with Google.

For me, Logos lets me research in 1 hour what would have taken me 3-4 hours with books (assuming I already owned them.) I can do this research anywhwere (not just where the books are, nor only when I'm on-line.) And in Logos 4, I can prioritize my resources so the answers I get are from my best choices.

I've you've not experienced that, the best answer to your question would be to sit with someone who uses Logos reguarly, and see them using it.

For what I do, switching to Logos was the most impacting purchase I've made in the last 10 years, in terms of what it allows me to do and the personal and spiritual growth that ensues.

(Last night, a friend also called Logos his most significant purchase this year, and he's only had it for 1 week!)

Rich DeRuiter

I so apologize in advance for my ignorance. But certainly you can understand my curiosity as to why paying for bible software anymore would hold any value, at least from a layman's perspective.

Instead of trying to explain it why don't you see for yourself at this website:

http://www.logos.com/videos

If you only have time for one video scan down to basic searching.

Kevin A. Purcell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/45075#Comment_45075

I honestly think for you the best be would be to use the online version of Logos. You can also download a bunch of free Bible programs that are very good and very simple. Logos may not like this, but I will recommend www.e-sword.net. But if you want one of the best even for simple bible study, Logos is one of the three or four best Bible packages available. It can grow as you grow. Get a small package and add books as you have need or never add anything. You are right it may be over kill for your needs now. But it may not be in a few years.